Bell's Black Note

I absolutely fell in love with 2011 Bell's Black Note. The 2012, on the other hand, I found to be a bit lacking. I just spotted this keg label on twitter:

Now, I recall a poster last year (pre-new forums) saying that both components of Black Note were aged in bourbon barrels before being blended, based on a conversation with someone important (maybe Larry Bell.) This label seems to indicate that the 50% Double Cream Stout is not aged in bourbon barrels. So is this something that changed between 2011 and 2012?

I think I read that just a little differently. Its saying that it is a 50% mix of both, but they are both aged in barrels. Almost along the lines of saying something like: Bramble and Cherry Rye are both great beers. Its implicated that they are both Rye barrel aged beers in a round about sense. I think maybe the punctuation throws it off a little. Like, if it said, "50% Special Double Cream Stout/50% Expedition Stout, Aged in Bourbon Barrels", it would have made more sense.

Beer Trader

I think I read that just a little differently. Its saying that it is a 50% mix of both, but they are both aged in barrels. Almost along the lines of saying something like: Bramble and Cherry Rye are both great beers. Its implicated that they are both Rye barrel aged beers in a round about sense. I think maybe the punctuation throws it off a little. Like, if it said, "50% Special Double Cream Stout/50% Expedition Stout, Aged in Bourbon Barrels", it would have made more sense.

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Right, and I want to believe the choice of punctuation, plus the placement of the "carriage-return" is intentional. Bell's wants to make it clear that 50% of Black Note is not BBA.

Out of curiosity I grabbed a 2012 Black Note bomber (750) and took a photo of the "literature", which makes it clear that the combination of stouts is barrel-aged. However the literature is not year-dated, which doesn't settle for me whether the 2012 might have changed. My taste buds seem to think so.

Subscriber

Right, and I want to believe the choice of punctuation, plus the placement of the "carriage-return" is intentional. Bell's wants to make it clear that 50% of Black Note is not BBA.

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I don't think you are in agreement with ABisonEgo with your text explanation, even though you said "Right." I think ABisonEgo is saying the two beers are blended, and then placed in the bourbon barrel. That's what the graphics of the bottle hanger read (to me) that foobula shows in his photo.

I don't think you are in agreement with ABisonEgo with your text explanation, even though you said "Right." I think ABisonEgo is saying the two beers are blended, and then placed in the bourbon barrel. That's what the graphics of the bottle hanger read (to me) that foobula shows in his photo.

I don't think you are in agreement with ABisonEgo with your text explanation, even though you said "Right." I think ABisonEgo is saying the two beers are blended, and then placed in the bourbon barrel. That's what the graphics of the bottle hanger read (to me) that foobula shows in his photo.

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I was just saying "right" that the keg label should be phrased differently if Black Note is 100% BBA.

That's my interpretation of the statement in the bottle hanger in your photo.

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Fair enough. I still find it strange that the hanger seems to dispute the keg label. I don't know why I liked the 2011 so much more -- it seemed to have a lot more bourbon and a certain smokiness that differentiated it from BCBS for me. But if it's still the same aging process, I'll just chalk it up to a changing palate.

Beer Trader

It was released in January this year, not sure if this is consistent from years past though. You being in Louisiana, I can't imagine it'll be very easy for you to find. You might have better luck on the trading forums.

Definitely is speculation. If it wasn't speculation you wouldn't need to ask a question or use words like "seems".

It is 100% barrel aged. Question now answered.

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Yeah it also claims that it's sold in 750 ml bottles which isn't true this year either. So maybe your source isn't right either? I'm thinking foobula's source may be more correct since it's newer.

One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell's history, Black Note Stout blends the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months. The resulting harmony of flavors captures the finest features of all three components: malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso & dried fruits, all buoyed by the warmth and fragrance of the bourbon barrel. Aimed squarely at the stout and bourbon aficionados, Black Note makes a grand statement about the art of the dark. ​

I absolutely fell in love with 2011 Bell's Black Note. The 2012, on the other hand, I found to be a bit lacking. I just spotted this keg label on twitter:

Now, I recall a poster last year (pre-new forums) saying that both components of Black Note were aged in bourbon barrels before being blended, based on a conversation with someone important (maybe Larry Bell.) This label seems to indicate that the 50% Double Cream Stout is not aged in bourbon barrels. So is this something that changed between 2011 and 2012?

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Pull out those middle school english class textbooks. It's time for a lesson in sentence structure. <groans>

There is no period after Double Cream Stout. There is a comma. This means the object of the sentence (Bourbon Barrels), applies to both subjects (Special Double Cream Stout and Bell's Expedition Stout).

Pull out those middle school english class textbooks. Time for a lesson in sentence structure.

There is no period after Double Cream Stout. There is a comma. This means the object of the sentence (Aged in Bourbon Barrels), applies to both subjects (Special Double Cream Stout and Bell's Expedition Stout).

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You are correct, but you are also assuming Bell's marketing team knows their grammar.

Pull out those middle school english class textbooks. It's time for a lesson in sentence structure. <groans>

There is no period after Double Cream Stout. There is a comma. This means the object of the sentence (Aged in Bourbon Barrels), applies to both subjects (Special Double Cream Stout and Bell's Expedition Stout).

Yeah it also claims that it's sold in 750 ml bottles which isn't true this year either. So maybe your source isn't right either? I'm thinking foobula's source may be more correct since it's newer.

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Actually it was sold in 750ml bottles, and also in 12 oz. bottles, which that page doesn't list. You are correct that the page hasn't been updated in over a year.

HOWEVER since the card with the bottle says it's 100% barrel-aged, I believe it. I'll admit to posting what I thought was a clear indication that it was only 50% barrel-aged this year, which it is no longer clear given the evidence to the contrary. Seems likely it is just a poorly-designed label.

Pull out those middle school english class textbooks. It's time for a lesson in sentence structure. <groans>

There is no period after Double Cream Stout. There is a comma. This means the object of the sentence (Aged in Bourbon Barrels), applies to both subjects (Special Double Cream Stout and Bell's Expedition Stout).

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This doesn't look like a sentence, rather a list. To me the comma separates two distinct items in the list, no period needed. It would be like saying "Here's what I'm wearing: blue jeans, and a red shirt with white stripes." The comma is added separation that the two descriptions are distinct, and the phrase "with white stripes" doesn't apply to both items. If I were writing the label, I'd have put "50% Special Double Cream Stout & 50% Expedition Stout, Aged in Bourbon Barrels" that way it's made clear that the phrase "aged in bourbon barrels" applies to both nouns.

SubscriberBeer Trader

This doesn't absolutely settle the question, but Bell's Facebook page has a March post "Just another day at the office ... Filling Black Note barrels" along with pics of the process.
This suggests to me that the whole mix (cream and expedition) all goes into barrels, at least for the upcoming version.

Beer Trader

Pull out those middle school english class textbooks. It's time for a lesson in sentence structure. <groans>

There is no period after Double Cream Stout. There is a comma. This means the object of the sentence (Bourbon Barrels), applies to both subjects (Special Double Cream Stout and Bell's Expedition Stout).